Facelift surgery reduces or eliminates common signs of aging from the face and makes the patient look years younger. There are several variations of facelift that, when performed by a competent and experienced surgeon, produce beautiful and natural-looking results. The surgeons at Chicago Aesthetic Surgery Institute and Medspa are extremely talented and consistently deliver excellent facelift results. Learn more about facelift and how it can help you achieve your aesthetic goals by exploring the information below.
Facelift Surgery Candidates
Suitable facelift candidates usually have one or more of the following signs of facial aging:
- Sagging in the mid-face (cheek area)
- Creases below the eyes
- Creases from the nose to the corners of the mouth (nasolabial folds)
- Displaced fat deposits
- A “double chin” or excess fat/loose skin under the jaw
Ideal Chicago facelift candidates are men and women in good physical health who do not smoke or can quit smoking for several weeks before and after the procedure. In addition, patients should have reasonable expectations of the procedure.
The Facelift Procedure
Prior to facelift surgery, your Chicago plastic surgeon will have a licensed anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist administer local or general anesthesia. The surgeon will make incisions in front and behind the ears. These incisions may extend into the scalp. Through the incisions, the surgeon will access the deeper layers of the face — the muscles and soft tissues that make up the Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System, or SMAS. These layers are tightened, “lifted” and secured into place. The surgeon may use liposuction on the neck and jowls, if need be. The goal is to elevate the structures of the face into a more youthful-looking arrangement and adjust the facial volume to look healthy and supple. After the surgeon has made the proper adjustments, the incisions are closed and the head is loosely bandaged to promote proper healing.
It should be noted that facelift does not treat the eyes, brows or forehead. Other procedures — such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), browlift and fat transfer — may be performed in conjunction with facelift to revitalize these areas.
Bruising and swelling is normal after the facelift procedure. Pain medication and support garments are provided to relieve discomfort and help the new facial contours settle properly. We advise our Chicago face lift patients to take one to two weeks off from work in order to fully heal. During this time, patients should rest and relax as much as possible and avoid strenuous activity or exercise. Patients can begin incorporating activity back into their routine at the advisement of our doctors and staff members.
Recovery
Some bruising and swelling is normal after the facelift procedure. Pain medication and support garments are provided to relieve discomfort and help the new facial contours settle properly. We advise our Chicago face lift patients to take one to two weeks off from work in order to fully heal. During this time, patients should rest and relax as much as possible and avoid strenuous activity or exercise. Patients can begin incorporating activity back into their routine at the advice of our doctors and staff members.
Facelift Benefits and Risks
Facelift surgery can take years off of a patient’s appearance and help them to look as young as they feel inside. It may help a patient feel more confident in the workplace, social situations and everyday life. The results of a facelift are long-lasting (approximately 10 to 15 years) and may last even longer if the patient avoids the sun, alcohol and smoking.
Risks of facelift include infection, hematoma and anesthesia-related complications. Also, there could be some unfavorable scarring; however, our surgeons are extremely skilled and pay close attention to the position of the surgical incisions so as to avoid unsightly scars.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
If you would like to schedule a consultation with our team to discuss facelift surgery, please contact Chicago Aesthetic Surgery Institute and Medspa today. During your appointment, our highly experienced surgeons can also evaluate you for various other procedures, such as eyelid surgery, brow lift, neck lift or rhinoplasty in Chicago. They can also inform you about some of our minimally-invasive treatments such as Chicago Ultherapy treatment.